MXPA96001709A - Connection module with proof and pue access - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection module, comprising: an insulating housing having an upper and a lower surface, first and second rows of contacts mounted within the housing, each contact includes a final portion, which is capable of providing electrical connection to a corresponding wire and a foot or base portion, characterized in that: the contacts are mounted so that the end portions of the first row extend through the upper surface and the end portions of the second row extend to Through the lower surface, the end portions of the first and second rows are laterally displaced, and the upper and lower surfaces include slots adjacent to the corresponding rows to receive therein the cables that make electrical contact with the corresponding contacts, the portions of foot or base of the corresponding contacts of the first and second rows make contact on at least two contact points, one contact point is aligned with one slot and the other contact point is aligned with a slot on the lower surface

Description

CONNECTION MODULE WITH TEST. AND BRIDGE ACCESS FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to modules for electrically connecting wire assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the telecommunications industry, the terminal blocks comprise an array of insulating displacement contacts typically used in the offices of telephone exchanges, building entrance terminals, and outdoor plant cabinets for the electrical connection between cables and the wiring of interconnection. An example of such terminal blocks is the standard type 110 terminal block. (See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,798,587). Such terminal blocks include rows of insulated displacement contacts mounted within a plastic module. Each contact includes grooves that penetrate the insulation at both ends. A set of wires is placed inside a band (index), and the contact module is placed on the wires to make contact with them. A second set of wires is inserted at the opposite end of the contacts to complete the electrical connection between the wire assemblies. In some recent systems, the connection modules include slots for mounting shields that are electrically connected to the contacts (See, for example, U.S. Patents 4,171,857 and 4,283,103). Although the blocks of the prior art are suitable, the connection was generally made on a single surface, and when the components of the protector were mounted on the block, it was necessary to remove the shields before inserting the link wires or the test pr. According to the Taiwanese Patent Application of Baggett et al. Case 1-1-1-1-1-1-8 filed on the same date as this one, describes a module that allows the connection on two surfaces and the insertion of switching cords or test leads on a surface to the once a protective component is mounted on the opposite surface. In such modules, it is desirable to ensure that the shield remains connected to at least some contacts when a test pris inserted into the block, so that the protection is not interrupted. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a "close before cut" capability so that the signal transmission is not interrupted when a switching cord or test access cable is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is a connection module that includes two rows of contacts mounted within an insulating housing having an upper surface and a lower one. Each contact includes a final portion which is capable of providing electrical connection to a corresponding wire, and a standing or base portion. The contacts are mounted so that the end portions of the first row extend through the top surface and the end portions of the second row extend through the bottom surface. The foot or base portions of the corresponding contacts of the first and second rows extend towards the housing and make electrical contact on at least two points of the foot or base portions. The contact points are aligned with the grooves in the upper and lower surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Those and other features of the invention are discussed in detail in the following description. In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a module according to an embodiment of the invention; FIGURES 2 and 3 are top and side views, respectively, of a contact according to the same embodiment; FIGS. 4-7 are cross-sectional views of a module according to the same modality; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view, partially cut away of a module portion according to the same embodiment; FIGURE 9 is an additional perspective view of the module according to the same embodiment; and FIGURE 10 is an end view of a cable that can be used within the module according to the same embodiment. It should be noted that, for purposes of illustration, these figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a module, 10, which can be inserted into a frame (not shown) together with other similar modules to form a terminal block. The module includes a housing which is made of an insulating material such as plastic. The housing includes an essentially rectangular body portion, 11, which is covered by the covers, 14 and 15. The covers can be made of the same material as the housing and define a top and bottom surface, 12 and 13, respectively, for accommodation. Each cover includes a series of slots, for example, 16, which allow the insertion of a wire (for example, 61 of FIGURE 4) into them as discussed below. Each cover also includes a series of slots, for example 17 and 18 of FIGURES 1 and 4, on the upper and lower surfaces, 12 and 13, of the housing, slots which allow the insertion of cables, for example, 40 and 41 , which can be electrically connected to a single protector, 21 of FIGURE 5, a test probe, 22 of FIGURE 7, a switch cord, 50 of FIGURE 9, a cartridge guard (not shown), or possibly other components.

As illustrated in Figures 4-7, mounted within the housing are a first row of contacts, for example, 30, and a second row of contacts, for example, 31, a contact of which (30) is illustrated with more detail in FIGURES 2 and 3. Each contact, 30 and 31, includes a final portion, 32 and 33, respectively, which is capable of providing electrical connection to a wire, 60 and 61 respectively. In this embodiment, the end portions each comprise a slot, 34 and 35, which penetrates the insulation surrounding the wire to establish electrical contact as long as the wire is inserted at the proper depth. The contacts are mounted so that the end portions of the first row of contacts, for example, 30, project through the upper surface, 12, of the housings, while the end portions of the second row of contacts, for example , 31, project through the upper surface, 13, of the housing. The end portions, for example, 33, are also aligned with the corresponding slots, for example, 16 of FIGURE 1, the covers, for example, 15 of FIGURE 1, so that the wires, for example, 61, can be inserted through the covers for the electrical connection by the contacts.

The rest of the contacts, 30 and 31, also known as the foot or base portions 42 and 43, respectively, extend toward the body portion, 11. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the faces of the end portions, for example, 32, are advantageously at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the foot or base portions, for example, 42. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the foot or base portion, for example, 42, of each contact, for example, 30, extends from the final portion at a first angle, Ti, from one edge of the final portion in the plane of the longitudinal axis, and further down the standing portion or base, extends at a second angle, T2, from the edge the final portion. In this particular example, Ti was 17 degrees T was 2 degrees. Typically, Ti is in the range of 10 to 20 degrees, while T2 is in the range of -10 to +20 degrees. The use of a double angle is advantageous to decrease the width (w) of the housing portion, 11, allowing the end portions to be placed more closely together. However, cables with a single angle can be used. It should be appreciated that the contacts in the first and second rows may be identical, but oriented in opposite directions.

The foot or base portions, for example, 42, each include a pair of raised portions, 44 and 45, which are coated with a precious metal or alloy to provide electrical contact. As illustrated in FIGURES 4-7, these raised portions establish two electrical contact points, 38 and 39, between the corresponding contacts, 30 and 31, of the first and second rows. Each upper contact point, for example, 38 is aligned with a slot, for example, 17, on the upper surface, 12, while each lower contact point, 39, is aligned with a slot, for example, 18, in the lower surface of the housing. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, when the cable, 40 connected or coupled to a shield, 21, (or to a switch cord such as that shown as 50 in FIGURE 9), is inserted into a desired slot, for example, 18, will initially push separately the two foot or base portions, 42 and 43, at the point of contact, 39, aligned with the slot. However, the feet or bases at the other contact point, 38, will initially remain intact to ensure a "close before cut" connection so that the transmission of signals between the two contacts, 30 and 31, is not interrupted. ( In actual practice, the closing feature before cutting is usually not necessary to connect a shield, but the principle is demonstrated by the use of the shield 21). Such closing capacity before cutting is possible due to a number of characteristics. Primarily, the point 38 remains closed even when the point 39 is opened due to the fact that when a cable is inserted at the point 39 from the bottom as shown, the deion of the foot 42 is greater than the deion of the foot 43. This is because the bending moment of the foot 43 depends on the distance (a) from the lower surface of the housing to the contact point 39, while the bending moment of the foot 42 depends on the distance (b) from the upper surface of the housing up to the point of contact 39. Clearly, the distance (b) is greater than the distance (a), and, consequently, the displacement of the foot 42 is greater than the displacement of the foot 43 thereby pushing the surface (44 of FIGURE 3) of the foot 42 toward contact with the corresponding surface of the foot 43 at the contact point 38 while the contact point 39 is open. It should be appreciated that the same principle operates on the contrary if a cable were inserted from the top, ie, the foot 43 could dee more than the foot 42 since the bending moment of the foot 43 could be measured from the contact 38 to the lower surface, while the standing bending moment 42 could be measured from the upper surface to the contact point 38. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the other contact point, 38, will eventually separate as the The cable is inserted further through the two foot or base portions, and the protector, 21, is seated on the lower surface, 13, of the housing. Accordingly, with the protector, 21, in its final position, the current between the contacts, 30 and 31, will flow only through the protector. The same sequence described in FIGURES 5 and 6 will occur when a switching cord such as that shown in FIGURE 9 is inserted into one of the slots, for example, 17 or 18. If at any point it is desired to provide a test access to the contacts, 30 and 31, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, a cable, 41, connected to a test cord, 22, can be inserted in the slot, 17, on the surface of the housing opposite the protector, 21. The Test lead, 41, will push further apart the point of contact, 38, not occupied by the protective wire. However, due to the bending moments described above, the foot 43 will remain in contact with the protective wire to continue providing protection to the cable and the circuit (not shown) connected to the lower end portions, for example, 33. However , the foot 42 connected to the portion 32 will be separated from the protective wire 40 to allow testing in both directions regardless of whether protection against overvoltage is provided to the circuit. The displacement of the foot 42 from the cable 40 is advantageously produced by a type of cable, 41, by the test zone illustrated in Figure 10. The cable basically comprises an insulating substrate, 55, such as an epoxy glass, with a typical thickness of about 1-2 mm. The substrate, 55, includes a pair of conductors, 46 and 47, on one surface, and a pair of conductors, 48 and 49, on the opposite surface. It should be noted that the thickness of the conductors 46 and 47, on one surface is significantly greater than the conductors 48 and 49, on the opposite surface. Typically, the thickness of conductors 46 and 47 is 0.50 mm, while the thickness of conductors 48 and 49 is 0.25 mm. In general, the thickness of a pair could be at least twice as great as those of the other pair. It should be appreciated that by inserting the cable 41 so that the thicker contact, for example 47, makes contact with the foot 42, while the thinner contact, for example, 49, makes contact with the foot 43 (and the other contacts 46 and 48, make similar contact with an adjacent pair of contacts (not shown) in the row), the pi-42 will be displaced an additional amount to separate from the protective wire, 40. As illustrated in Figure 0, it is provided a sr -'- >; of edges, for example 80, between the standing portions, for example 42 and 43, of each pair of contacts, 30 and 31 and extending across the width of the body portion, 11. Each edge, 80 includes a channel 81. , aligned with a slot, 17, in the upper surface of the housing, in a channel, 82, (partially obscured in its view), aligned with a slot 18, in the lower surface of the housing. Each channel, 81 or 82, captures a portion of cable 41 or 40 of Figures 6-7, inserted in a corresponding slot 17 or 18. It should be noted that channels 81 and 82 prevent bending of cables 41 and 40, as they are inserted, and, therefore, avoid excessive deflection of the foot portions, 42 and 43, which could result in the feet bending beyond their elastic limit. Also, since the slots, 17 and 18, and the corresponding channels, 81 and 82, are offset to align with a corresponding contact point 38 and 39 of Figure 4, the edge, 80, can also serve to assist the desired deflections of the previously described foot portions.

The various modifications of the embodiment described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the body portion, 11, need not be open on top and bottom and covered by a lid as shown, but may have its own top and bottom surfaces either without lid or with lid covering only the portions end of contacts. Thus, it should be apiated that the connection module described here has several advantages. For example, it allows the cables, for example, 61, to be connected to a row of contacts, for example, 31, and the interconnecting wires, for example, 60, be connected to another row of contacts, for example 30, on the opposite surface of the module. At the same time, the double contact points, for electrically placing the contacts of the two rows allow a cable to be inserted at one point before the other point is separated thereby establishing a contact to make before breaking. The double contact points also allow test access from one module surface while one guard is mounted on the other surface to provide continuous protection. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property:

Claims (6)

1. A connection module, comprising: an insulating housing having a top surface and a bottom surface; first and second rows of contacts mounted within the housing, each contact includes a final portion, which is capable of providing electrical connection to a corresponding wire and a foot or base portion, characterized in that: the contacts are mounted so that the portions ends of the first row extend through the top surface and the end portions of the second row extend through the bottom surface, the end portions of the first and second rows are laterally offset, and the top and bottom surfaces include slots adjacent to the corresponding rows to receive in them the cables that make electrical contact with the corresponding contacts, the foot or base portions of the corresponding contacts of the first and second rows make contact on at least two points of contact, a point of contact is aligned with one slot and the other contact point is aligned with a groove in the lower surface.

2. The connection module according to claim 1, characterized in that the final portion provides electrical connection by means of a groove penetrating the insulation.

3. The compliance connection module of claim 1, characterized in that the contact points include the raised surfaces of the foot or base portions of the corresponding contacts.

4. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the raised surfaces are coated with a material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver and palladium.

5. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the foot or base portion comprises at least two segments which extend from the end portion at first and second angles (Ti, T2) from an edge of the end portion, and Elevated surfaces are located at the ends of the segments.

6. A connection module according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulating body comprises a series of edges adjacent to the foot or base portions of the corresponding contacts and are positioned to prevent bending of the cables inserted in the slots when the cables they make contact with their corresponding standing or base portions.